KUALA LUMPUR: The government is strengthening Malaysia’s legal framework to combat increasingly complex and organised online scams, with the proposed Cybercrime Act expected to come into force in early 2027.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said existing laws had been strengthened through amendments to the Penal Code (Act 574), introducing Sections 424A, 424B, 424C(1) and 424C(2), as well as amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) through the introduction of Section 116D.

Enforcement against online crimes is also supported by relevant provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

In addition, the government has introduced the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866) to enhance online safety and protect users from harmful online content and risks.

The ministry said the country’s cybercrime legal framework was also being strengthened through the introduction of the Cybercrime Bill, in response to technological developments and the changing cyber threat landscape.

The Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to review and assess the need for further improvements to existing legislation to ensure that Malaysia’s legal framework remains relevant and effective in addressing evolving cybercrime threats.

The statement was in response to a question from Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who asked whether the government was prepared to amend outdated laws and impose significantly heavier penalties, including caning, on scammers.

He cited the growing threat of cybercrime, which reportedly caused losses amounting to RM2.97 billion in 2025.

The government said it viewed the growing sophistication of online fraud seriously and would continue strengthening its legal and enforcement frameworks to address the threat.